Mailbag: VeloNews readers share their wisdom and insights.

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Mountain bike birthers speak up against Levi

Dear Editor,

Re: Levi strikes back

I was hoping you could pass on to Levi that the birthplace of mountain biking is not NorCal, but rather CB, which stands for Crested Butte, where the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame resides with old pictures backing up this claim.

I bet Levi doesn’t even have a clunker. But he’s still a good rider and I’m bummed he had to drop out of the Tour.

Ethan Harris
Leysin, Switzerland
(former CB resident)

Velo thoughts from Southern NM

Dear Editor,

I’m missing Eric Zabel. I’m so impressed with Lance’s return. I’m missing Floyd Landis on any podium. I’m hoping Tyler Hamilton is feeling well. I’m hoping Cavendish learns to keep his mouth closed unless it’s relevant. I’m enjoying Jonathan Vaughters’ closed mouth approach.

I’m looking forward to le Tour 2010. I’m thanking all the riders, mechanics, directors, sponsors, magazines, online news … for bringing us some fantastic cycling this season.

Nolan Winkler
Hillsboro, New Mexico

Why Johnny’s?

Dear Editor,

Congratulations to Lance on his recent victory at the Leadville 100. In the most respectful way, I wanted to pose the question as to why he chose to primarily promote his bicycle shop on his jersey, rather than his foundation?

Any thoughts?

Andrew Kean,
San Luis Obispo, California

Disappointed

Dear Editor,

Wow. I just read that the organizers of the Leadville 100 allowed three late entries so Lance can break Dave Wiens’ record. I entered the lottery and lost out this year. Dave Wiens entered the lottery and lost out his first year. What happened to the rules? Very dissappointed in Ken Chouber.

I think I will save my money for promoters who are FAIR.

Alan Keeffe,
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Made in U.S.?

Dear Editor,

Regarding the letter in the July 30 Mailbag recounting the “domination” of North American bike makers in the recent Tour de France, I wonder what is the definition of “US and Canada bike makers”?

Last fall I went out searching for a new road bike for the first time in 10 years, and I was dismayed to find that there were, to my investigation, only two US mass production manufacturers still actually making frames and also assembling finished bikes here in the US (Trek and Cannondale).

Since then, Cannondale has discontinued production at its Bedford facility, and no longer makes production bikes in the US. And Trek apparently only makes their highest end bikes in the US, and who knows how long that will last?

In the end, I bought one of the last production Cannondales that has “Handmade in the USA” emblazoned on the frame. So in ten years when I buy my next bike, I guess I’m heading to a custom bicycle artisan if I truly want the bike to be made by a “US bike maker.”

John Ginther
East Norriton, Pennsylvania

Great day for the Tour

Editor,

In your recent article, “Astarloza Tests Positive”, you wrote that “the news comes as a blow to the Tour”. Nonsense — every day that they catch another cheater is a great day for the Tour!

I can’t wait to see a Tour that is completely free from the scourge of cheaters and blood dopers. Pierre Bordry, the head of the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) is a hero — he is making the sport cleaner every year. Cheaters beware!

Charles Hansen
Boulder, Colorado

Biased reporting

Editor,

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy the great coverage Velonews.com provides to cycling enthusiasts like myself. 
 
Recently, I have been concerned about the none-too-subtle bias I encounter in many of your articles. You seem to have it out for Contador, using rather extreme language to put him in a negative light anytime he states an opinion that isn’t entirely modest or in keeping with praise of teammate Armstrong. 

I’m certainly not saying I’m the biggest fan of Contador, and wonder if he too will be tarnished by doping scandals in the future, but you tearing him down isn’t going to help elevate Lance. 

Quite frankly I don’t think you even hinted slightly that Contador should have been expected to do whatever he wanted to do in the Tour because he was the strongest rider, or that he had a right to raise an eyebrow when his own team hired the one person who should have been his greatest adversary. 
 
What I want to point out is this: that your biased coverage, at least in my eyes, doesn’t make Lance look any better or Contador look any worse, it simply reflects poorly on your editorial staff - skewering the way you report a story to put someone in a negative light or someone else in a positive light is the greatest injustice a journalist can commit – doctoring both truth and history. 
 
“Contador Rips Armstrong,” indeed!
 
Dave Kelly,
Durham, Ontario, Canada

Editor’s Note: Thanks for the note Dave. But didn’t Contador rip Lance?

Tour de Lance

Editor,

The 2009 Tour de France biggest loser is Lance Armstrong.

First he gate-crashed the Astana team after announcing his return to the Tour.
Then he hijacked the team in France.

And finally he ditched his team for a better party on Saturday night. In the end IT IS really all about Lance and not about the bike!

David Berman,
Plano, Texas

Dirty laundry

Editor,

I’m a fan of both Lance and Alberto. I wish they would take care of their personal disagreements on a personal level. Using the press to “talk” to each other seems immature and unprofessional. I know the media love this kinda stuff, but it’s not helping either of them.

Larry Kaatz,
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Raleigh Boys

Editor,

It was interesting to read the Raleigh reunion article and I was especially interested to hear about Doug Dale.

I started to ride after high school in 1980 in a small farming town where he was living. My best friend and I were 18 years old learning to race and I recall group rides with Doug who taught us about pace lines, pedaling technique, when to peel off, etc.

Nice to see him looking fit and still riding. I can still feel his hand slapping my heel and telling me to pedal flat.

David Barry,
Hadley, Massachusetts

Fitchburg coverage

Editor,

Many thanks to Velonews and particularly Mark Johnson for his excellent articles and race reports from the 50th Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, including the most recent one about the Raleigh Boys reunion.

The stories are well written, the pictures telling, and the retrospective on our sport’s history well timed for the upcoming crop of young riders.

Craig Webb,
Glendora, California

FILED UNDER: Mailbag